Atta Boy Roy tries again in Iowa Sprint; Freedom Star returns in Distaff

Atta Boy Roy tries again in Iowa Sprint; Freedom Star

returns in Distaff

One year ago, ATTA BOY ROY (Tribunal) was sent off as the even-money favorite

in the

Iowa Sprint H., only to run into a buzzsaw named Majesticperfection. There

probably aren't any heirs to Majesticperfection in Friday night's renewal of the

$125,000 dash at Prairie Meadows, but Atta Boy Roy will still face six last-out

winners, led by the Bob Baffert-trained VENTANA (Toccet).

A Washington-bred famously sold for just $4,500 as a yearling, Atta Boy Roy

first garnered national attention with a victory in the Churchill Downs S. (G2)

on Kentucky Derby Day 2010. The Valorie Lund charge then finished a troubled

second in the Aristides S. (G3) before shipping to Prairie Meadows, where he

settled for second behind the track record-smashing Majesticperfection.

Atta Boy Roy is following the same itinerary this time, having turned in a

terrific runner-up effort in the June 4 Aristides at Churchill. After arguing

the fast pace, he struck the front and pulled away in the stretch, but was

ultimately caught by a Grade 1 veteran in Noble's Promise (Cuvee).

That performance showed that Atta Boy Roy had put his uncharacteristically

poor efforts in his last two graded tries -- the 2010 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1)

(where he was vanned off) and the April 3 Potrero Grande S. (G2) -- well behind

him. Now back to his best, Atta Boy Roy will break from the outside post 7 with

a returning Jesus Castanon.

Ventana likewise recorded his signature win last year and has since taken

time to round into form. His breakthrough came with a hard-fought, photo-finish

decision in the 2010 Potrero Grande, but he could do no better than fourth to

Atta Boy Roy in the Churchill Downs S.

Sidelined for more than eight months thereafter, Ventana was knocking on the

proverbial door in his first three starts back this winter. The fourth time

turned out to be the charm, for he battled his way to a neck victory in the May

21 Maryland Sprint H. (G3) on Preakness Day. Rafael Bejarano picks up the mount

aboard the 120-pound highweight, who has drawn in the middle in post 4.

HUMBLE SMARTY (Mutakddim), hero of the 2010 Claiming Crown Rapid Transit S.,

comes off a 7 3/4-length rout in the off-the-turf Honor the Hero Turf Express at

Canterbury and promises to add to the torrid pace. So does Sunland stakes winner

WINTER CAMP (Forest Camp), who wired an optional claimer at this track and

six-furlong distance in his latest. BILLY TWO HATS (Aragorn [Ire]), CATABOUT (Pikepass)

and DUCKY DRAKE (Benchmark) are also exiting wins over the local strip.

The Iowa Sprint is one of three stakes on the Friday night program, which

kicks off the two-day Iowa Festival of Racing. The companion race for fillies

and mares, the $100,000

Saylorville S., features Churchill shipper BEAT THE BLUES (Great Pyramid

[Ire]). The Bret Calhoun trainee posted a career-best in defeat last time in the

May 30 Winning Colors S. (G3), surviving an intense pace battle before being

worn down late by Grade 1 winner Sassy Image (Broken Vow).

Two starts back, Beat the Blues captured a Keeneland allowance/optional

claimer over HOT HOT MAMA (Menifee), who came back to win a stakes at

Mountaineer. Beat the Blues figures to flash early speed from the rail for new

rider Castanon.

The well-bred HA HA TONKA (Distorted Humor), whose second dam is Test S. (G1)

heroine Capote Belle, seeks to extend her winning streak to four while remaining

perfect on dirt. The Danny Peitz pupil has led at every call in her maiden romp

at Oaklawn Park, her entry-level allowance score at Churchill and in the May 30

Prairie Rose S. here. The respective second and third from that local prep,

SMOKY BELLE (Macho Uno) and TORNADO BETTY (Comic Strip), will try again Friday.

Also looking to bounce back is JOE JA (Ministers Wild Cat), the winner of the

April 22 Goldfinch S. at this course and distance, who wound up sixth in the

June 4 Panthers S. after her saddle slipped.

The $100,000

Iowa

Distaff S. at 1 1/16 miles marks the return of FREEDOM STAR (Street Cry

[Ire]) from her 15-month vacation. The Baffert mare came into her own early last

year after shipping out of Southern California in search of dirt. Relishing the

opportunity to race on the traditional surface, Freedom Star put her early speed

to good use and wired both the Azeri S. (G3) and Harry Henson H. She was shelved

after the latter triumph, but has been firing bullets in preparation for her

comeback. The rail-drawn Freedom Star, who gets in light with just 114 pounds,

will be guided by Bejarano.

Multiple stakes-placed BELLA MEDAGLIA (Medaglia d'Oro) exits a 3 1/2-length

allowance victory at Churchill Downs, and could be sitting on another big race

for Calhoun. The versatile LA ROCCA (Toccet), who has won Canadian stakes on

both dirt and synthetic, makes her debut for Mike Stidham off a seven-month

layoff.

Steve Asmussen will send out REMIT (Tapit), who moved her record to

two-for-three at Prairie Meadows with a narrow verdict in the May 28 Wild Rose

S. at this trip. ALWAYS IN MY HEART (Hennessy), the dead-heat second, aims to

turn the tables, along with fourth-placer KIMBER LILY (Sunday Break [Jpn]). Two

starts back, Kimber Lily was third in the Redbud S. to graded veterans Tidal

Pool (Yankee Gentleman) and Tiz Miz Sue (Tiznow).